Thought for the week

A century in league football could come to an end as early as tonight when fellow League Two strugglers Barnet visit Accrington Stanley. Should Barnet win, Neil Woods's Grimsby will join Darlington in being relegated. Even if they receive a stay of execution, Barnet's current four-point cushion and game in hand suggest Grimsby – who visit Underhill on Saturday – are seeking a miracle.

The Mariners have cause to regret the appointment of Mike Newell. After sacking Newell last autumn the club then became involved in a time-consuming legal wrangle with the former Blackburn Rovers striker.

Woods, a former youth team coach at Blundell Park, has struggled to right things, dictating that these are lean times for a club who, along with Hull City, once enjoyed rare dispensation from the Football League to play games on Christmas Day due to the demands of the fishing trade. Even though football supporters can still combine a trip to Blundell Park with buying some of the best fresh fish and chips in England, the subsequent decline of Grimsby's once-thriving trawler fleet means festive fixtures have long since been shifted to Boxing Day.

It similarly seems aeons ago since Grimsby attracted the regular 20,000-strong crowds typical during Bill Shankly's time as manager between 1951-54. Previously in charge of Carlisle, Shankly arrived after failing an interview to take charge of Liverpool – Anfield would come a little later in his career. Before becoming disillusioned by the Blundell Park board and perhaps showing too much loyalty to certain players, he swiftly revived the fortunes of a team who had just dropped from the old first division to the third division north.

Significantly this was a time before the 'cult of the manager' had taken a grip on English football but, nonetheless, Shankly proved a celebrity figure in Grimsby with crowds of 5,000 frequently turning out to watch him keep fit by playing the odd reserve game. The bond between manager and fans was built on pride. In his autobiography, Shankly wrote: "Pound for pound and class for class my Grimsby team was the best football team in England at that time. In the league they played football nobody else could play. Everything was measured, planned and perfected and you could not wish to see more entertaining football."

If only Grimsby fans could say the same of their side now.

Goals of the weekend

Andy King for Leicester in the 1-0 Championship win at Preston which booked Nigel Pearson's side a play-off place. The midfielder struck a fine solo goal, his fierce right footed shot from the edge of the area coming after his advance from the halfway line.

Mikele Leigertwood's stunning winner in QPR's 1-0 Championship win at Barnsley. A goal out of nothing struck with his supposedly weak left foot with great power into the top-right corner of the net.

One to watch

Nigel Adkins Despite boasting by far the smallest budget in the Championship at Scunthorpe, Adkins, a former physio turned manager, has defied the odds and avoided relegation. Even more creditably this has been achieved against a backdrop of Scunthorpe playing good passing football. Hats off.

Huddersfield Town Lee Clark's pleasing side have reached the League One play-offs using fewer players – 24 – than any other club in the Football League this season.

Gordon Strachan as a BBC World Cup pundit. It can only be hoped the Middlesbrough manager is considerably more polite to viewers than he has been to journalists since arriving at the Riverside. Television executives might care to view a tape of Strachan's rudeness towards the excellent BBC Look North reporter Dawn Thewlis the day he took over from Gareth Southgate and reflect on the hypocrisy of earning extra money from the media while treating them with contempt in the course of your day job. It was unacceptable – but Thewlis is not alone.

Roy O'Donovan Rubbish at Sunderland, the former Cork City striker has scored nine goals in 13 games during a loan spell at Hartlepool. A League One star is born.

Games to look forward to

Charlton v Leeds Can Simon Grayson's Leeds cling onto the second automatic promotion place? Charlton seem set for the play-offs.

Tranmere v Millwall Are Millwall destined to leapfrog Leeds into an automatic promotion place or might Kenny Jackett's team have to settle for a play-off place? Millwall were 20 points behind Leeds on Boxing Day it would seem cruel if they slipped up now.

Blackpool v Bristol City Can Ian Holloway's Blackpool pip Swansea to the final play-off place?

Swansea v Doncaster After spending so long in the top six are Paulo Sousa's team destined to miss out at the death? Fading at the last Swansea have won just two of their past 10 games and are dependent on Blackpool slipping up.

Sheffield Wednesday v Crystal Palace Relegation tears will be shed in South Yorkshire but whose will they be? At least points-deducted Palace have the gifted Darren Ambrose in their side.